Reuters: Greece in Talks with Israel for AA, Anti-Missile System

Reuters on Friday quoted “two officials with knowledge” to revisit heightened speculation that Greece is considering Israeli weapons systems in order to create its own version of the “Iron Dome” anti-aircraft and anti-missile system. The latter has been successfully developed, fielded and used by Israel.
The Greek version is dubbed “Achilles Shield”, and, although not publicly stated is intended for deployment in the Aegean to counter standing revisionism – and often belligerence and saber-rattling – on the part of Turkey.
The Reuters dispatch cites a figure of three billion euros for the envisioned outlay, aimed to create “a multi-layer anti-aircraft and anti-drone system.”

The quote, attributed to one of the two officials the news agency cites, is that “…we want to buy 36 PULS artillery systems and anti-aircraft systems for ‘Achilles Shield’. The negotiations with Israel will intensify next month.” The source reportedly added that Greece-based companies would supply roughly 25% of the project.

Greece-Israel Naval Exercise off Crete

Meanwhile, in a related development, a major naval exercise was concluded over recent days in Greek waters south and southeast of Crete and in the eastern Aegean, comprised of Hellenic Navy and Israeli Navy assets.
The exercise coincided with renewed Israeli support for the construction of an undersea power cable linking the grids of Israel, Cyprus and Greece, the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project.
A large flotilla of surface vessels and submarines participated in the exercise, including frigates, missile boats and submarines, on the part of the Greek side, while the Israeli Navy participated with its Sa’ar corvettes.